Chamber and committees

Our second panel today consists of Kenny Donnelly from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and David Fraser, who is executive director of court operations with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. A warm welcome to both of you.

We will move straight to questions. I intend to allow around 75 minutes for the panel. I will go first to David Fraser, on the issue of grounds for refusing bail. The Crown Office’s submission looks at that in some detail. It has been suggested that the concept of public safety should be defined in the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill. Do you think that it would be helpful to have a definition of that? What should that cover? What elements should be included?

Does anybody else want to come in?

Okay. I will leave it at that. I think that other members will be interested in probing the specific issue of public safety a little more.

That is helpful. I have a question about a very practical issue, which came up during the committee’s visit to Glasgow sheriff court last week. Is there order in a custody court list or is it quite random?

We are on time, so I will allow Russell Findlay to ask a quick question, after which Jamie Greene wants to clarify a point. He has promised me that he will be even quicker.

The recent reporting of squirrelpox in the Borders is cause for concern. The 2022 great Scottish squirrel survey has shown that concerted efforts in Aberdeen have been very successful, with red squirrels returning and the grey squirrel population significantly decreasing.

Will the cabinet secretary join me in commending the efforts of those who have worked to preserve that iconic Scottish species in the north-east?

We face twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, and subnational Governments, cities and local authorities all have a responsibility to address that. Will the minister provide more detail on the Edinburgh declaration and the role that the Scottish Government played in leading on it?

David, do you want to comment on that?

May I intervene at that point? We are enjoying and finding significant value in your comprehensive answers, but I am mindful of time, and I have four members who want to come in. I hate cutting you off.

Just on the point about under-18s that you covered earlier, it is worth noting that the next bill that committee will deal with is the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill. There is a presumption in it to send under-18s to secure care and not prison. Obviously, we will look more closely at that issue down the line.